Automatic sheet storage apparatus

ABSTRACT

An automatic apparatus for temporarily storing sheets or cards, notably banknotes, characterized in that it comprises a wheel rotatably driven from an electric motor and first and second endless belts passing over guide pulleys and contacting two arcs of the outer periphery of said wheel, and an electric control circuit comprising a first photocell detector disposed in said inlet passage and detecting the presence of a sheet in said inlet passage so as to start said electric motor, and a second photocell detector located in the vicinity of the downstream pulley of said second belt for controlling the stoppage of said electric motor when the presence of a moving sheet is detected between said second belt and said wheel.

iinite States Patent De Crepy [54] AUTOMATIC SHEET STORAGE APPARATUS [72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Societe Anonyme Francaise des rippareils Automatiques Taximetres- Edourad De Crepy, Paris, France [is] 3,683,943 1 Aug. 15, 1972 Walker 194/4 Tanaka ..133/1X An automatic apparatus for temporarily storing sheets or cards, notably banknotes, characterized in that it comprises a wheel rotatably driven from an electric motor and first and second endless belts passing over guide pulleys and contacting two arcs of the outer periphery of said wheel, and an electric control circuit comprising a first photocell detector disposed in said inlet passage and detecting the presence of a sheet in said inlet passage so as to start said electric motor, and a second photocell detector located in the vicinity of the downstream pulley of said second belt for controlling the stoppage of said electric motor when the presence of a moving sheet is detected between said second belt and said wheel.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 15, 1972 3,683,943

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

IMVGNTQE M Patented Aug. 15, 1972 3,683,943

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fly. 2

AUTOMATIC SHEET STORAGE APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION plurality of banknotes corresponding to the total price to be paid for the dispensed article, these banknotes being subsequently either reimbursed if the customer desires it, or cashed if the sale is concluded by the customer who depresses a suitable push-button in this case SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned more particularly with an apparatus for the temporary storage of sheets, cards and the like, and more particularly banknotes, this apparatus being of relatively simple design and characterized by a maximum safety of operation.

To this end, the automatic apparatus for temporarily storing sheets or cards, notably banknotes, according to this invention is characterized in that it comprises a wheel rotatably driven from an electric motor and first and second endless belts passing over guide pulleys and contacting two arcs of the outer periphery of said wheel, the sheets being clamped and carried along between each belt and the wheel at an upstream pulley where saidbelt engages said wheel, and subsequently released at a downstream pulleywhere said belt moves away from the wheel the downstream pulley of the second belt and the upstream pulley of the first belt forming therebetween an inlet passage for said sheets,

'the downstream pulley ofthe first belt and the upstream pulley of the second belt forming therebetween an outlet passage for said sheets, at least one pivotally mounted shutter responsive to a control member, said shutter beingnormally disposed in the inoperative posi tion in said sheet outlet-passage so as-to, close said outi let passage and guide the sheets from the downstream pulley of said first belt to the downstream pulley of said second belt, and an electric control circuit comprising a first photocell detector disposed in said inlet passage and detecting the presence of a sheet in said inlet passage so. as to start said electric motor, and a second photocell detector located in the vicinity of the downstream pulley of said second belt for controlling the stoppage of said electric motor when the presence of a moving sheet is detected between said second belt and said wheel.

The temporary sheet-storing apparatus according to this invention is designed more particularly for temporarily storing banknotes, but item also be used for the temporary storage of other sheets or cards having a width greater than that of banknotes. In this case, the

apparatus comprises a drum in lieu of the wheel and the beltshave a corresponding width or are in greater number on a same side of said drum.

With this apparatus it is possible to store around the wheel or' drum a plurality of partially overlapping 2 passage or towards one of two encashment and reimbursement passages inthe case of banknotes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE A typical form of embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the automatic apparatus for temporarily storing banknotes according to this invention, and,

FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram of the electric control circuit of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT,

The apparatus illustrated in the drawing comprises two parallel vertical plates 1 in and between which a horizontal shaft 3 is joumalled, this shaft 3 being rigid with a wheel 2 and rotatably driven from an electric motor 4provided with braking means (-not shown). The velocity of rotation of wheel 2 is about 1 revolution per second.

A pair of endless belts 5, 6 engage two opposite portions of the plain peripheral surface of wheel 2. The right-hand belt 5 is passed over four guide pulleys 7, 8, 9 and 11 rotatably mounted on plates 1, and bears against one portion of the right-hand half of wheel 2. This wheel 2 is assumed to rotate in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 1 and the uppermost point or generatrix of this wheel is taken as the origin 0; the belt 5, moving substantially in the counter clockwise direction, engages the wheel2'from apoint A (between wheel 2 and the upper upstream pulley 7)such that the arc 6A corresponds to about 30, said belt 5 remaining in constant contact with the wheel 2 along an arc AB approximating (with point B located between wheel '2 and the-lower downstream pulley 8).-

The left-hand belt6 passes ove-rthe left-hand half of wheel 2 and over four guide pulleys ,12, 13, 14 and 15 rotatably mounted in plates 1. More particularly, this belt 6 moving substantially in the counter-clockwise direction engages the wheel 2 from a point-C (between wheel 2 and the lower upstream pulley '12) located in the lower portion of; the left-hand section of wheel 2 and such that the arc ETC corresponds to an angle of about 45"; then, the belt engages the outer periphery of wheel 2 up to the aforesaid uppermost point or generatrix 0, between the upper downstream pulley l3 and the wheel 2.

The banknotes X to be stored in the apparatus are introduced into an upper collecting; device 16 equipped if desired with an optical checking device (not shown) for ascertaining the authenticity or genuineness of these banknotes, according to a well-known technique. As they emerge from this optical device the banknotes deemed adequate are transferred to an inclined chute 18 from which they fall into the inlet passage of the apparatus, i.e. between the upstream pulley 7 of belt 5 and the downstream pulley 13 of belt 6. Then the banknotes X are carried along by the wheel 2 and belts 5, 6 as will be explained presently.

The apparatus further comprises four photo-electric cells 19, 21, 22 and 23 illuminated by lamps 24, 25 and 26. The photocell 19 responsive to the presence of freshly inserted banknotes X is disposed on one side of pulley 7, for example on the right-hand side with respect to the path followed by the banknotes X between pulleys 13 and 7. The lamp 24 is disposed substantially level with cell 19, on the left-hand side of the path followed by the banknotes X is close vicinity of pulley 13. This lamp 24 is disposed externally of the outer periphery of wheel 22 and adapted to illuminate at the same time the other photocell 21 disposed internally of the wheel periphery, like the other two photocells 22 and 23, as shown diagrammatically in MG. 1.

Lamp 26 and photocell 23 are aligned on a same radius at an intermediate point af arc AB, said lamp 26 being disposed externally of the outer periphery of wheel 2.

Finally, photocell 22 and lamp 25 are aligned on a same radius in close proximity of point C.

The lower passage provided between the lower downstream pulley 8 or belt and the lower upstream pulley 12 of belt 6 is intended for delivering the banknotes. This outlet passages is divided into two sections by a pair of shutters, namely an encashment shutter 27 and a reimbursement shutter 28; both shutters 27, 28 are pivotally mounted at their lower end about pins 29 and 31, respectively. The shutters 27 and 28 are responsive to electromagnets 32 and 33 respectively which, when energized, cause the corresponding shutters to pivot in the counter-clockwise direction. At their upper portions both shutters 27, 28 are formed with integral bent lips 27a and 28a, respectively, disposed in succession and ensuring the continuity of the banknote path between belts 5 and 6 in said outlet passage. I

In the inoperative position as illustrated in thick lines in FIG. 1, the shutters 27 and 28 actuate corresponding microswitches 34 and 35, respectively.

As clearly shown in the wiring diagram of FIG. 2 the photocells 19 and 21 are connected to a device 36 controlling the energization of the electric motor 4, that is, to inlet terminals controlling the starting and stopping of said motor, respectively. Also connected to this device 36 are the two output terminals of a time-lag device 37 receiving at its input terminals 38, 39, encashment and reimbursement signals, respectively, transmitted from an external source.

This electric circuit further comprises two AND gates 41 and 42 having each two inputs. Photocell 22 is connected to first inputs of AND gates 41 and 42, the second inputs of these gates being connected to the two outputs of time-lag device 37, respectively. The outputs of AND gates 41 and 42 are connected to encashment electromagnet 32 and reimbursement electromagnet 33, respectively.

Finally, the apparatus comprises a locking device 43 for preventing the insertion of banknotes into the collecting device 16 in different cases to be mentioned presently. The inputs of this device 43 are connected to photocell 23, to the output of device 36 controlling the energization of motor 4 and to the pair of microswitches 34 and 35.

Now the mode of operation of the apparatus of this invention will be described in detail.

When a banknote X is inserted into the apparatus, it slides along the chute 18 and falls into the inlet passage between the upper pulleys 13 and 7. As this banknote X passes between the lamp 24 and photocell 19, it shuts out the light beam normally received by this cell. This causes a ON" signal to be transmitted to the device 36 which controls the energization of motor 4. This motor 4 then rotatably drives the wheel 2 in the clockwise direction. The leading edge of banknote X engages the outer periphery of wheel 2 and is carried along to the right until it engages the nip between the wheel 2 and the first belt 5 at point A. The banknote is subsequently carried along between the wheel 2 and the first belt 5 in the clockwise direction, down to point B, and guided across the outlet passage by the bent lips 27a and 28a of shutters 27 and 28 towards point C where it re-engages the nip between the second belt 6 and wheel 2. The banknote is then carried along the left-hand portion of wheel 2 until it reaches the upper portion thereof, where photocell 21 is provided. At this point, the banknote shuts out the light beam normally received by cell 21 and the latter is thus caused to transmit a OFF signal fed to said device 36, this signal involving the de-energization of motor 4 and therefore the stoppage of wheel 2. Thus, the banknote X is stored in the position shown by the dash-and-not line in FIG. 1.

From this moment, on a waiting phase begins until another banknote is inserted into the collector box 16. If a second banknote is introduced, the same cycle of operations is resumed; thus, the presence of this second banknote controls the starting of motor 4 and the rotation of wheel 2 as the banknote shuts out the light beam received by cell 19. The second banknote X is then carried along between the first belt 5 and wheel 2, while the first banknote is carried along between the second belt 6 and wheel 2 while being slightly off-set backwards. Thus, both banknotes slightly overlapping each other are rotatably driven in the clockwise direction, and the rotational movement is continued until the leading edge of the second banknote, which comes first, shuts out the light beam received by photocell 21. Thus, motor 2 is de-energized.

This sequence of steps may be repeated several times and thus a plurality of banknotes can be stored in the apparatus until the last banknote shuts out thecell 23 acting somewhat as an overflow device. Under these conditions, if the light beam normally received by photocell 23 is constantly shut out, this cell will deliver a signal to the locking device 43 preventing the operation of collector device 16 and therefore the introduction of another banknote, in order to avoid a complete filling of the wheel, since this would obviously prevent any further reimbursement or cashing-in.

When a plurality of banknotes corresponding at the most to the maximum permissible number of banknotes that can be introduced into the apparatus have been stored therein, banknotes may however be collected upon issuance of an external order. This order may take the form of an electric pulse fed to terminal 38 and converted by time-lag device 37 into a banknote-collecting signal fed both to the device 36 controlling the starting of motor 4 and to AND gate 41. Thus, when this banknote collecting signal is emitted, the motor 4 is started and remains energized during a predetermined time period depending on the duration of the banknote-collecting signal transmitted by time-lag device 37. The previously stored banknotes begin to be carried along again by the wheel 2 and immediately as the last banknote of the circular row of overlapping banknotes has overstopped the photocell 22, the latter is illuminated by the corresponding lamp 2S and thus delivers a permission signal to AND gate 41. Since the banknote collecting" signal is fed to the other input of said AND gate, the latter delivers at its output a signal causing the energization of the bank-note collecting electromagnet 32. Thus, shutter 27 is pivoted in the counter-clockwise direction about its fulcrum 29, and its bent lip 27a engages the outer periphery of wheel 2. Therefore, when the circular row of banknotes oversteps point B, the banknotes are diverted downwards in succession and in the direction of the arrow f so as to fall into an encashment duct or channel.

The rotation of wheel 2 is continued during a certain time corresponding to about 2 revolutions thereof, whereafter the banknote collecting signal is no longer fed to AND gate 41. Then, the encashment electromagnet 32 is de-energized and shutter 27 resumes its inoperative position under the control of a suitable spring (not shown). Simultaneously, motor 4 is deenergized and stopped.

The reimbursement of the banknotes is also con trolled by an external order in the form of an electric pulse fed to gate 39. This pulse is converted by time-lag device 37 into a reimbursement-state signal fed to gate 42. The reimbursement process is similar to the encashment process and the illumination of photocell 22 by lamp 25 is attended by the opening of gate 42 and the energization of reimbursement electromagnet 33. The reimbursement shutter 28 is thus pivoted in the clockwise direction about the axis 31 and its bent lip 28a engages the outer periphery of wheel 2. Under these conditions, the circular row of overlapping banknotes carried along by wheel 2 is diverted by this shutter 28 towards a reimbursement passage along the path shown by the arrow f During this reimbursement operation the shutter 27 I is retained in its inoperative position. It will be noted that during an encashment the shutter 27, by pivoting, closes the reimbursement passage, thus making it mechanically impossibleto perform an untimely reimbursement during an encashment.

The microswitches 34 and 35 connected to device 43 are adapted to lock the banknote collector device 16 until both shutters 27 and 28 are in their inoperative positions.

The various photo-electric cells are also connected to said locking device 43 so that in case, during a normal sequence of operations, these photocells were not illuminated for any reason (failure of a lamp, foreign bodies, etc...) the banknote collector device can also be locked to prevent the insertion of further banknotes.

Although, the apparatus according to this invention has been described in the foregoing with reference to a specific form of embodiment ofv the temporary storage of banknotes, it will readily occur to those conversant with the art that the same or a similar apparatus may also be used for the temporary storage of sheets or cards of any character having a relatively great width. In this case, the wheel 2 is replaced by a drum of corresponding axial length engaged on either side by one or more belts of adequate width, corresponding to the single belts 5 and 6.

According to a modified form of embodiment, this apparatus may also be operated in the horizontal position, e.i. with the axis of wheel or drum 2 disposed horizontally, the various sheets or cards being handled in vertical planes; in this case, FIG. 1 may be considered as being a plane view from above, and adequate means are provided for feeding the sheets or cards to the nip between the belt 5 and wheel or drum 2, and for delivering them at the output side or end of the apparatus.

Of course, the specific forms of embodiment described, illustrated and suggested herein should not be construed as limiting the field. of the present invention since various modifications and changes may be brought thereto without departing from the basic principles of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic apparatus for temporarily storing sheets or cards, notably banknotes, characterized in that it comprises a wheel rotatably driven from an electric motor and first and second endless belts passing over guide pulleys and contacting two arcsof the outer periphery of said wheel, the sheets being clamped and carried along between each belt and the wheel at an upstream pulley where said belt engages said wheel, and subsequently released at a downstream pulley where said belt moves away from the wheel, the downstream pulley of the second belt and the upstream pulley of the first belt forming therebetween an inlet passage for said sheets, the downstream pulley of the first belt and the upstream pulley of the second belt forming therebetween an outlet passage for said sheets, at least one pivotally mounted shutter responsive to a control member, said shutter being normally disposed in the inoperative position in said sheet outlet passage so as to close said outlet passage and guide the sheets from the downstream pulley of said first belt to the upstream pulley of said second belt, and an electric control circuit comprising a first photoelectric cell detector disposed in said inlet passage for detecting the presence of a sheet in said inlet passage so as to start said electric motor, and a second photo-electric cell detector located in the vicinity of the downstream pulley of said second belt for controlling the stoppage of said electric motor when the presence of a moving sheet is detected between said second belt and said wheel, the length of the arc of the wheel between the point where stops the leading edge of the sheet last inserted into the apparatus, and the point where a sheet newly inserted into the apparatus begins to be carried along by the wheel and the first belt, being less than the length of a sheet, so that the sheets successively inserted overlap each other.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, in said outlet passage, an encashment shutter and a reimbursement shutter, both shutters being pivotally mounted and controlled by corresponding encashment and reimbursement electromagnets, respectively, said shutters being disposed in tandem and each formed with a bent lip constituting somewhat an extension of the paths of said belts so as to guide the sheets across said outlet passage when said shutters are in their inoperative position, and to divert said sheets to the exterior when the associated electromagnet is energized.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a third photo-electric cell detector disposed downstream just after the shutters and connected to the first two inputs of a pair of two-input AND gates provided for the encashment and reimbursement functions, respectively, said AND gates having their outlets connected to the aforesaid encashment and reimbursement electromagnets, respectively, the second inputs of said AND gates receiving encashment and reimbursement signals, respectively, which are adapted to cancel each other.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a locking device preventing the insertion of a sheet into the apparatus, an additional photo-electric cell detector disposed at a predetermined point of the are along which said first belt engages said wheel, said additional detector being connected to the locking device so as to prevent the insertion of additional sheets when the last sheet inserted into the apparatus and stored therein constantly shuts out said photoelectric cell after the stoppage of the wheel.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said encashment and reimbursement shutters are adapted, in their inoperative position to actuate a pair of corresponding switches connected to said locking device.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a device for controlling the energization of the wheel-driving motor, said device being connected on the one hand to said first and second photo-electric cell detector for starting and stopping said motor, respectively, and on the other hand to a time-lag device adapted to emit an encashment or reimbursement signal of predetermined duration for starting the motor during the corresponding time period, and that said motor energizing circuit is connected to said locking device for preventing the insertion of other sheets into the apparatus as long as the motor is operating. 

1. An automatic apparatus for temporarily storing sheets or cards, notably banknotes, characterized in that it comprises a wheel rotatably driven from an electric motor and first and second endless belts passing over guide pulleys and contacting two arcs of the outer periphery of said wheel, the sheets being clamped and carried along between each belt and the wheel at an upstream pulley where said belt engages said wheel, and subsequently released at a downstream pulley where said belt moves away from the wheel, the downstream pulley of the second belt and the upstream pulley of the first belt forming therebetween an inlet passage for said sheets, the downstream pulley of the first belt and the upstream pulley of the second belt forming therebetween an outlet passage for said sheets, at least one pivotally mounted shutter responsive to a control member, said shutter being normally disposed in the inoperative position in said sheet outlet passage so as to close said outlet passage and guide the sheets from the downstream pulley of said first belt to the upstream pulley of said second belt, and an electric control circuit comprising a first photo-electric cell detector disposed in said inlet passage for detecting the presence of a sheet in said inlet passage so as to start said electric motor, and a second photo-electric cell detectoR located in the vicinity of the downstream pulley of said second belt for controlling the stoppage of said electric motor when the presence of a moving sheet is detected between said second belt and said wheel, the length of the arc of the wheel between the point where stops the leading edge of the sheet last inserted into the apparatus, and the point where a sheet newly inserted into the apparatus begins to be carried along by the wheel and the first belt, being less than the length of a sheet, so that the sheets successively inserted overlap each other.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, in said outlet passage, an encashment shutter and a reimbursement shutter, both shutters being pivotally mounted and controlled by corresponding encashment and reimbursement electromagnets, respectively, said shutters being disposed in tandem and each formed with a bent lip constituting somewhat an extension of the paths of said belts so as to guide the sheets across said outlet passage when said shutters are in their inoperative position, and to divert said sheets to the exterior when the associated electromagnet is energized.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a third photo-electric cell detector disposed downstream just after the shutters and connected to the first two inputs of a pair of two-input AND gates provided for the encashment and reimbursement functions, respectively, said AND gates having their outlets connected to the aforesaid encashment and reimbursement electromagnets, respectively, the second inputs of said AND gates receiving encashment and reimbursement signals, respectively, which are adapted to cancel each other.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a locking device preventing the insertion of a sheet into the apparatus, an additional photo-electric cell detector disposed at a predetermined point of the arc along which said first belt engages said wheel, said additional detector being connected to the locking device so as to prevent the insertion of additional sheets when the last sheet inserted into the apparatus and stored therein constantly shuts out said photoelectric cell after the stoppage of the wheel.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that said encashment and reimbursement shutters are adapted, in their inoperative position to actuate a pair of corresponding switches connected to said locking device.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a device for controlling the energization of the wheel-driving motor, said device being connected on the one hand to said first and second photo-electric cell detector for starting and stopping said motor, respectively, and on the other hand to a time-lag device adapted to emit an encashment or reimbursement signal of predetermined duration for starting the motor during the corresponding time period, and that said motor energizing circuit is connected to said locking device for preventing the insertion of other sheets into the apparatus as long as the motor is operating. 